Automatic boiler water conditioner



July 16, 1940. L. o. GUNDERSON Er AL 2,207,793

AUTOMATIC BOILER WATER CONDITIONER Filed Dec. 24, 1937 2 Sheets-sheaf; 1

[aw/c 0. GwmEeca/V. OLA/V0 W 048491618,

Jul 16, 1940. I

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 24, 1937 L. O. GUNDERSON El AL AUTOMATICBOILER WATER CONDITIONER UIX .Z/E LIFE [aw/s 0. Gt/NOEB-SO/VQ iii)Patented July 16, 1940 AUTOMATIC cornea WATER CONDITIONER Lewis 0. Gunderson and Oland' W. Garrick, Chicago, 111., assignors toElectro-Ohemical Engineering Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporationof Delaware Application December 24, 1937, Serial No. 181,488

12 Claims.

This invention relates to the controlling of foaming in operating steamboilers and more specifically relates to the automatic discharge of foamforming ingredients and other impurities accumulated in the watersurface and steam bubble films of the light water formed throughout andabove the steam generating zone in the boiler in operating steamboilers.

This application is a continuation-in-part of the Carrick and GundersonU. S. application Serial No. 104,760 entitled: Automatic boiler waterconditioner and blow-off system, filed Octobet 9; 1936, now Patent No.2,132,028, dated October 4, 1938.

A steam boiler, when in operation and supplying steam, has a body ofsteam expanded or light water formed throughout and above the steamgenerating zone in the boiler water. This light Water or steam expandedwater has entrained therein a myriad of steam bubbles and is of lessdensity than the main body of boiler water when the boiler is not inactualoperation. The top level of the light water is not indicated inthe usual sight glass of the boiler since the steam bubbles are releasedas the water enters the sight glass. The level indicated by the sightglass is therefore always lower than the actual top level of the lightwater in the boiler when steam is be ing generated.

Since the development of light water or foam in the boiler is a gradualand progressive phenomenon, it is desirable that means be provided tocontrol or prevent excessive foam formation. We'havefound that the foamforming or foam stabilizing ingredients in boiler water accumulate orare positively adsorbed in the steam bubble interfaces in the lightwater or in the steam bubble films. As these substances are released atthe surface of the light water upon breaking of the steam bubbles, it isapparent that they are free to recirculate in the boiler water,repeating their function of bringing about foam formation and foamstabilization by being adsorbed in the surfaces of new steam bubblesformed in the evaporation zone of the boiler. These substances,therefore, perpetuate foam formation within the boiler unless they areremoved or unless their foam-forming and stabilizing ability isdestroyed.

According to this invention, foam, collapsed the boiler in a collectingmeans mounted in the boiler having the inlet thereof above the normalwater level of the boiler but within the light boiler water zone. Thematter collected in the collecting means is then periodically dischargedout of the boiler by a device that operates automatically whenever thefoam or light water exceeds a predetermined level in the boiler.

This automatically operatingdevice comprises a float that either risesor sinks when the foam or'light water in the boiler exceeds apredetermined level to vent the boiler pressure against the piston orpistons of a valve mounted preferably on top of the boiler; it beingunderstood that such a valve can also be located within the boiler,although such inside mounting is inconvenient for repair'andmaintenance. The boiler pressure thereupon acts against the piston orpistons .to open the valve whereupon the boiler pressure will blow thematter collected in the collecting means through the valve and out ofthe boiler.

The apparatus of this invention is automatic in operation and may becombined with a'mud ring blow-off for blowing off the lower portion of.the boiler simultaneously with the discharge of the collected foam andlight Water at thetop of the boiler, or it can be used only as a controldevice for blowing off from any other portion of the boiler. The removalof foam and light water having the foam forming and foam stabilizingingredients concentrated therein will thus not only control the foamformation in the boiler but will condition the boiler water to preventexcessive foam formation. I I

It is then an object of this invention to provide apparatusautomatically operated by the level of foam or light water in anoperating steam boiler to discharge impurities, collected in thetop-portion of the boiler, from the boiler.

A further object of this invention is to segregate matter containingfoam forming and foam stabilizing ingredients in the upper portion of anoperating steam boiler and automatically discharge this segregatedmatter whenever the foam or light water in the boiler exceeds apredetermined level.

A further object of this invention is to provide collecting means in theupper portion of a steam boiler above the normal water level therein forreceiving foam, collapsed foam and light boiler water therein and todischarge the collected ma-' terial out of the top of the boilerwhenever the foam or light water in the boiler exceeds a predeterminedlevel.

Another object of this invention is to provide apparatus that isautomatically operated to vent the boiler pressure against apiston-controlled valve for opening the valve Whenever the foam or lightwater in the boiler exceeds a predetermined level and to utilize theboiler pressure to discharge collapsed foam through the valve out of theboiler, and if desired to also discharge boiler water through the valvefrom any other portion of the boiler.

Another object of this invention is to provide float means actuated byexcessive development of foam or light water in a boiler to control theblowing down of any portion of the boiler.

A further object of this invention is to provide a process for removingfoam forming ingredients from boiler water in operating steam boilerswithout loss of good boiler water and steam which process utilizes theboiler pressure in the boiler to blow such ingredients out of theboiler.

Other and further objects of this invention will become apparent tothose skilled in the art from the following detailed description of theannexed sheets of drawings which disclose preferred embodiments of theinvention.

While the invention will be hereinafter specifically described asembodied in a locomotive boiler, it should be understood that the sameis applicable to any type of steam boiler and that such use of theinvention is included in the scope of the appended claims.

On the drawing:

Figure l is a fragmentary diagrammatic side elevational View, with apart broken away and shown in vertical cross section, of a locomotiveboiler having embodied thereon an apparatus according to this invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along the line IIII ofFigure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary diagrammatic sideelevational View of alocomotive boiler, with a part broken away and shown in vertical crosssection, to illustrate a modified form of the invention.

Figure e is a view similar to Figure 3 but illustrating anotherembodiment of the invention.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figures 3 and 4 but illustrating anothermodification of the invention.

Figure 6 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view of a double actingvalve forming part of the apparatus shown in Figure 1.

Figure 7 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view of a single actingvalve forming part of the apparatus shown in Figures 3, land 5.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary diagrammatic side elevational view, with apart broken away and shown in vertical cross section, of a locomotiveboiler having mounted thereon a float operated pilot valve and a remoteblow-off valve controlled by the pilot valve according to an embodimentof this invention.

As shown on the drawings:

In Figure 1 the reference numeral 9 designates generally a locomotivecomprising the usual boiler shell It], engineers cab H and fire box I2.The fire box !2 is defined by front and rear sheets l3 and M and a crownsheet l5.

Under usual operating conditions boiler water !6 in the boiler ismaintained at least at a level three to five inches above'the crownsheet l5 of the fire box I2. During a working of the boiler, light waterH, composed of water having a myriad of steam bubbles entrained therein,is formed throughout and above the steam generating zone and is expandedabove the normal level of the boiler water as. shown in the conventionalwater sight glass.

The space I8 above the light water level I! is the steam space of theboiler from which steam is supplied to the steam dome IQ for feedingthrough the throttle pipe 20 to the operating cylinders (not shown) ofthe locomotive.

According to this invention an open topped bucket, basin or pan H ismounted in the upper portion of the boiler preferably behind the steamdome l9. The pan is suspended from the top of the boiler shell it bymeans of straps 22. The top of the collecting pan is at a level abovethe normal water level of the boiler water it shown in the conventionalsight glass 23 but is Within the zone reached by the top level of lightwater [1 formed during the operation of the boiler so that this lightwater and/or foam is collected in the pan 2| before it reaches adangerous level making possible its entrainment with the steam enteringthe steam dome. The pan 2| thus intercepts the foam and light waterbefore it reaches the steam dome.

The sight glass 23 is conventionally mounted in the engineers cab H forindicating the water level in the boiler. This sight glass communi catesat the bottom thereof through a pipe 24 with water in the boiler at alevel below the top of the crown sheet l5. The top of the sight glasscommunicates through a pipe 25 with the steam space of the boiler.

The water level L of the boiler water It indicated by this sight glass23 will always be lower than the actual top level of the light water orfoam in the boiler since this steam expanded water in the boiler is ofless density than the boiler water and steam bubbles entrained thereinwill be released should they enter the sight glass.

According to one embodiment of this invention a double acting valve 26is preferably mounted on top of the boiler shell Hi. This valve 26, asbest shown in Figure 6, includes a pair of auxiliary valves 2'! and 28operated by oppositely disposed pistons 29 and30 slidable in an openended cylinder 3| in the top portion of the valve. A space 32 isprovided in the cylinder 3! between the pistons 29 and 30. This space32, communicates through a passageway 33 formed through the stem of thevalve 2'! with a pilot valve 34 having a hollow shank portion 34aprovided with oppositely disposed vertically elongated slots 34!).

The end of a rod 35 is seated in the shank 34a of the pilot valve 34 andthe pilot valve is held in limited slidable relation on the rod by meansof a pin 36 extending through the rod and seated at its ends in theslots 34b. i

The pilot valve 34 is slidably seated in a cylindrical portion 27a ofthe auxiliary valve 21 and is adapted to close the mouth of thepassageway 33 through the valve 21.

The valve 21 seats in a valve seat 31. A tube 38 is threaded into thevalve seat 31 and extends downwardly into a chamber 39 of the valve 26.The tube 38 carries bushings W receiving the rod 35 therethrough to holdthe same in vertically slidable position. Passageways M are provided inthe tube 35, in the bushing supporting portions of the tube, to permitpassage of fluid through the tube.

The valve 26 contains an inlet 42 at the bottom thereof and anotherinlet 43 at the top thereof. A discharge outlet Ml is provided on theside of the valve and communicates with a chamber 45 of the valvecontaining the open ended cylinder 3|.

As shown in Figure 6, the valve 26 is bolted or otherwise secureddirectly on top of the boiler shell l9. I

The inlet 42 receives the end of apipe 46 which, as shown in Figure 1,extends through the boiler shell I into the pan 2|. Thepipe 46terminates slightlyabove the bottom of the pan 2 I.

Theinlet 43 of the valve receives the end of a I pipe 4! which pipe,-asshown in Figure 1, communicates with the mud ring of the boiler as at Aswill hereinafter be described the lower portion of the boiler can beblown down simultaneously with the emptying of the pan 2|. A valve 49can be provided in the pipe line to regulate the blow-off from the mudring.

The discharge outlet 44 of the valve 26 receives the end of a pipe 59,which pipe, as shown in Figure 1, communicates with a steam separator I5|, mounted on top of the boiler shell Ill in front of the engineers cabII. The steam separator 5| is of known construction and includes a steamdischarge outlet 52 vented upward to the atmosphere and a liquiddischarge line 53 extending to the bottom of the locomotive. The sludgeWater and impurities discharged from the boiler .can be drained throughthe discharge line 53 and Figure 2. The lever 55 is normally held inhorizontal position by the weight 5.1 which counterbalances thecup-shaped member 58. However when light water or foam rises to a levelto enter the cup-shaped member 58 through the open bottom 59' thereofthe member 58 is floated, causing the lever 55-to swing from itshorizontal position into an inclined, position. This movement of thelever arm moves the counterweight 51 and the rod downwardly since thesame are mounted on the other side of the pivot point 56.

While the member 58 has been described as an inverted open cup member,it should be understood that any float member could be used, such wateror foam therein and when the rod .35 is moved downwardly for asufficient distance so that the pin 36 (Figure 6), contacts the bottomof the slots 34b to move the pilot valve 34 away from the mouth of thepassageway 33 the bottom of the 'pipe 46 will be submerged in thematerial collected in the pan.

Since the chamber 39 of the valve 26 is .in communication with theinteriorof the boiler through the pipe 46 it is under boiler pressure.Now, when the pilot valve 34 .is moved downward away from the mouth ofthe passageway 33 through the auxiliary valve 21, it is obvious that thespace 32 in the open ended cylinder 3| between the pistons 29 and 30will be subjected tob oiler pressure. This boiler pressure is thusexerted against the pistons 29 and 3.9 to slide the same same referencenumerals.

of the boiler shell l-fl.

. separator 5|.

toward the ends of the cylinder '39 and thereupon open the auxiliaryvalves 21 and 28. Both inlets 42 and 43 of the valve will then be incommunication with the discharge, 44 which discharge is vented to theatmosphere through the steam separatOr 5|.

The boiler pressure will thereupon cause the contents of the pan 2| toblow up through'the pipe 4| and through the open valve 26 into the steamseparator. At the same time if the valve 49 (Figure 1) is open, thelower portion of the boiler will be blown off through the pipe 41.

From the above description it should be understood that thismodification of the invention comprises the mounting of a double actingvalve on top of a boiler on the outside of the boiler.

The lower portion of this valve is in communication with the bottom of acollecting pan mounted in the top of the boiler. The top portion of thevalve is in communication with the mud ring of the boiler. The valve isautomatically operated by a float device mounted in the boiler and isactuated whenever the light water or foam in the boiler exceeds apredetermined level.

Since the lower end of the discharge pipe 46 for the collecting pan 2|is below the level of the float device in the boiler, the valve 26 willnever be open unless-the end of the pipe 46 is submerged in collectedfluid. In this manner steam is not wasted since the steam space of theboiler is not vented to the atmosphere during the operation of thedevice.

When the level of the light water or foam subsides the weight of thefloat 5S will cause the swinging of the lever arm back to its horizontalposition thereby raising the rod 35 to close the pilot valve .34. Thespace 32 between the pistons will then not be subjected to boilerpressure although the opposite sides of the aux-i1- iary valves 21 and28 are still under boiler pressure. This boiler pressure will cause thevalves to be reseated and the pistons will be moved back to the positionshown in Figure 6. The space .32 between the pistons is not airtight sothat any fluid remaining between the pistons can vbleed out of the spacebetween the sides of the pistons and the inner wall of the cylinder 3|.

In the modification of the invention illustrated in Figure 3, partsidentical with the parts 'described in Figure 1 have been marked withthe In this embodiment of the invention the lever-5'5 carrying the float58 is pivoted at 56 directly on the collecting pan 2|. Instead ofusing'the double acting valve 26,

a single acting valve 60 is used. .This valve 619 31-5 is mounted on topof the boiler shell it! above the collecting pan 2|.

As best shown in Figure 7 the valve E9 comprisesa housing 6| defining achamber -62 on top The housing 6| has .an opening 63 at the bottomthereof and a discharge opening 64 at the side thereof for receiving theend .of a pipe 64a extending .to .asteam separator on top of the boileridentical with the steam with the housing 6| in the chamber 62 thereinand has an open bottom directly above the bottom opening 63 of thehousing.

A boss 66 is threaded through the top of the boiler shell 19 and forms aseat for an auxiliary valve 61. The valve '61 has a stem 68 receiving apiston 89 on the end thereof slidably mounted in the cylinder 65. Apassageway fit is formed "through the valve stem and communicates withthe interior of the :boiler through the valve head The cylinder isformed integral r65 The boss 66 has a down pipe 1| threaded therein. Thedown pipe H as shown in Figure 3, extends into the pan 2| near thebottom of the pan. The valve 67 has a hollow shank portion 12 receivingin slidable relation therein a pilot valve 73 adapted to close themouthv of the passageway ill. The pilot'valve 13 is carried on the endof a rod 15 in the same manner described in connection with the valve25. The rod is slidable through the down pipe 1| also in the same mannerdescribed in connection with the valve 26.

The lower end of the rod M is pivotally connected to or integral with anL-shaped rod it (Figure 3) extending under the down pipe H and upwardlyto the lever 55 where it is pivoted at its end, to the lever 55 at 15between the fulcrum point 56 and the counterweight 51 of the lever.

The float 58 and the counterweight 51 hold the lever. 55 in asubstantially horizontal position. However, when light water or foamrises above the bottom of the float 58, the float is raised to tilt thelever 55. Since the bottom of the float 58 is level with the top of thepan 2|, the lever 55 will not tilt until light water or foam has spilledinto the pan 2| to cover the bottom of the down pipe I I.

Such tilting of the lever 55 pulls the rod 14 downward to open the pilotvalve '13 and to subject the space 16 (Figure 7) in the cylinder 65above the piston 69 to boiler pressure. Under such conditions the boilerpressure in the space 16 will force the piston 59 toward the open endof. the cylinder 55 to open the auxiliary valve 61. The chamber 62 inthe valve 5|] will then be in direct communication through the down pipeH with the material collected in the pan 2|. Since this chamber 52 isvented to the atmosphere through the steam separator, the boilerpressure will blow the contents of the pan 2| up through the down pipe Hand out of the boiler.

When the light water or foam level within the boiler sub-sides below thetop of the pan 2|, the

float 58 will drop to return the lever 55 to its permitting theauxiliary valve 6'! to readily close.

In the modification of. the invention described in Figures 3 and "I, noprovision is made for blowing off the lower portion of the boiler. Itshould be understood, however, that the same float arrangement describedin Figure 3 can be used in apparatus including a double acting valvesuch as described in Figures 1 and 6 to include a blowing down of thelower portion of the boiler simultaneously with an emptying of the pan2|.

In the modification of the invention disclosed in Figure 4, partsidentical with the parts described in Figures 3 and 7 have been markedwith the same reference numerals.

In Figure 4, the float 58, instead of being mounted outside of the pan2|, as described in Figures 1 and 3, is mounted in the pan 2| below thetop level thereof. but above the bottom of the down pipe 1!. In thismodification the float is carried on a lever arm fulcrumed at 8| to thepan 2|. The arm 85 includes an offset portion 82 extending beneath thebottom of the down pipe This portion 82 of the arm is pivotallyconnected at 83 to the end of the rod 14.

In the operation of the device shown in Figure 4, light water or foamwill spill into the pan 2| as soonas it exceeds a level above the top ofthe pan. The light water and foam is thus collected in the pan until itreaches the bottom of the float 58 whereupon a raising of. the level ofthe collected matter will move the float upwardly to tilt the arm 8|)about the pivot 8| thereupon moving the offset portion of the arm 82downwardly. This downward movement unseats the pilot valve of the valve60 to open the auxiliary valve 51 in the same manner described inFigures 3 and 7. The contents of the pan 2| will thus be discharged outof the boiler through the down pipe until its level subsides below'thenormal position of the float 58 whereupon the valve 50 will be closed.

Since the float 58 is above the bottom of the down pipe 'Hthevalve 50will never be opened unless the down pipe is submergedin liquidcollected in the pan. In this manner steam cannot be discharged from theboiler. i

If it is desired to blow down the lower portion of the boilersimultaneously with an emptying of. the pan 2| the valve 60 can bereplaced with a double acting valve such as 26 described in Figures 1and 6.

In the modification of the invention shown in Figure 5 of the drawingsparts identical with parts described in Figures 1 and 3 have been tactsthe end of. the down pipe H, the bucket 1 cannot float to a higherlevel. When this condition is reached, a raising of the liquid level inthe pan 2| will permit the collected material to flowover the top of thebucket thereby filling the bucket and causing the same to sink. Asinking of the bucket opens the pilot .valve l3'which in turn causes theopening of the valve 60. The liquid collected in the pan 2| will then bedischarged from the pan up through the down pipe ll into the valve 55and from the valve 60' through the discharge line 64a.

If desired, of course, the valve'Bt in the installation described inFigure 5 can be replaced with a double acting valve such as is describedin Figures 1 and 6 to include a blowing down of the lower part of. theboiler simultaneously with an emptying of the pan 2|.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 8, parts identicalwith parts described in Figures 1 and 4 have been identified with the 7same reference numerals.

In this embodiment, a boss member m0 is "secured through the boilershell H] above the pan boss IOU while the other end of the pipeline issecured in the inlet Hi l of a remote blow-off valve I05.

The blow-off valve I05 comprises a casing I05 having a second inlet I01and a discharge outlet I08 between the inlets Hi4 and I01. A seat I09 isformed in casing I 06 above the outlet I08 while a valve seat H0 isformed below the outlet I08.

A piston III is slidable in the casing I06 above the seat through theseats I09 and H0 and adapted to abut a ball I I3 urged by a spring I I4against th valve seat IIO.

A bleeder passageway H5 is formed through the piston III placing theinlet I04 in restricted communication with the outlet I08.

The inlet I01 of the casing I06 receives a pipe II6 communicating withthe interior of the boiler at any desired level, such as, for example,the bottom I I! of the mud ring.

The outlet I08 of the casing I06 receives the end of the discharge pipe64a described in connection with Figure 4. l

The spring II4 normally holds the ball II3 against the seat H0 and alsoholds the piston above the seat I09. In this condition the valve I 05 isclosed.

However when liquid collected in the pan 2i raises the float 58 to movethe pilot valve I3 from its seat I02, boiler pressure is admitted to thepiston III through the pipe line I03 forcing the piston downward againstthe seat I09. The

stem I I2 of the piston then forces .the ball off' of the valve seat II0 and the valve I05 is opened to discharge sludge water from the mudring of the boiler or from any point in'the boiler with which the pipeII6 might communicate.

Liquids and other foreign matter in the pan 2| are blown by the boilerpressure, up through the down pipe 'II, through the pipe I03, into thetop of the valve casing I06 and through the bleeder passageway II5 intothe discharge line 64a along with the sludge water.

The collected material in the pan is'thus removed from the boiler andwhen the float 58 again sinks to close the pilot valve the spring II4and boiler pressure in the pipe I'I6 will close the blow-01f valve I05.

In this embodiment of the invention therefore the float actuated pilotvalve controls the operation of a remote blow-off valve for blowing downany desired portion of the boiler.

Any of the float arrangements described in Figures 1 to 5 may be usedfor controlling a remote blow off valve. If desired the collecting panand down pipe can be dispensedwith and the float operated valve used forventing the steam space of the boiler to the blow-off valve for openingthe latter whenever foam and light water development in the boileractuates the float.

Alternatively, in the devices shown in Figures 4 and'll the down pipes'Il may be eliminated and a hole placed in the bottom of the collectingpans 2|. The discharge ports of the pilot valves are then joined with ablow-off valve as shown in Figure 8.

Then, when a pan '2I receives light water or foam therein at a ratefaster than the rate of drainage through the hole in the bottom of thepan, a sufiicient amount of liquid will soon be accumulated in the panto actuate the floats for opening the pilot valve to vent boiler pressure to the piston of the blow off valve. This pressure will open theblow oil valve and effect a blowing down of the boiler.

When the light water or foam level in the boiler subsides so that therate of drainage from the pan 2| is faster than the rate of entry ofliquid into the pan, the liquid level in the pan willsoon subside andthe float will close the pilot valve. The piston of the blow oii valve,in such event,

I09 and has a stem II2 extending will not be subjected to the boilerpressure and the valve will close to terminate the blow off.

From the above descriptions of the various embodiments of this inventionit should be understood that the invention'provides for the mounting ofa valve on or in a boiler and the controlling of the operation of thisvalve by float arrangements mounted in the boiler. These floatarrangements are actuated by the level of light water or foam in theboiler. When the valves are opened by the float devices, the light waterand foam, having the foam producing and foam stabilizing ingredientsadsorbed therein, are discharged irom the boiler. If desired, the valvescan operate remote blow-off valves for blowing off other parts of theboiler. The devices of this invention are entirely automatic inoperation and do not permit wastage of steam or relatively good waterfrom the boiler.

We are aware that many changes may be made and numerous details ofconstruction may be varied through a wide range without departing fromthe principles of this invention, and we, therefore, do not purposelimiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by theprior art.

, We claim as our invention: I

1. Apparatus for controlling foaming in operating steam boilers whichcomprises water'and foam collecting means in the upper portion of theboiler having the inlet thereof above the normal water level in theboiler but within the zone reached by light water developed in theboiler whereby said collecting means is adapted to receive directly fromthe main body of light boiler water formed throughout and above thesteaming zone of the boiler, the foam producing and foam stabilizingmaterials accumulated in the said light boiler water, a discharge valvemounted outside of the'boiler above the water collecting means, a downpipe extending from the valve into the collecting means below the inletlevel thereof and a float responsive to the light water level in theboiler, said float set to respond to high and low levels both above thebottom of the down pipe to respectively open and close the valve,whereby a rise in light Water above a predetermined level will cause thefloat to open the discharge valve and pressure in the boiler will forceliquid in the collecting means upwardly through the down pipe into thedischarge valve and out of the boiler without appreciable loss of steamtherewith.

2. Apparatus for removing foam producing and foam stabilizingingredients from operating steam boilers without discharge of relativelygood boiler water and steam therewith which comprises a collecting panmounted in the upper portion of the boiler and having the inlet thereofabove the normal water level in the boiler, said inlet being incommunication with the excessively expanded light water formed duringthe operation of the boiler whereby said light water can be collected insaid means, a valve mounted on the outside of the boiler above thecollecting pan, said valve including a piston operated auxiliary valveand a pilot valve adapted to vent the piston of the piston operatedvalve to the boiler whereupon boiler pressure will open the auxiliaryvalve, a down pipe extending from said valve into the bottom portion ofthe collecting pan and a float in said boiler arranged to hold the pilotvalve in closed position whenever light water level in the collectingpan'is below the downpipe, said float being actuated by the rise oflight boiler water in the boiler above a predetermined level higher thanthe bottom of the downpipe to move the pilot valve from closed positionfor venting the piston to boiler pressure to open the auxiliary valve,thereby efiecting a discharge of liquids in the pan out of the boilerwithout loss of steam therewith.

3. In combination, a locomotive boiler, collecting means in the steamspace of the boiler in communication with light water developed duringthe operation of the boiler above the normal water level in the boiler,a discharge valve mounted on top of the locomotive boiler, a down pipejoining the lower portion of said discharge valve with the bottomportion of the collecting means, said discharge valve including a pistonoperated auxiliary valve adapted to open when the piston is subjected toboiler pressure, a pilot valve in said discharge valve controlling theventing of the piston to the boiler pressure and a float device in theboiler operatively connected to the pilot valve, said float devicearranged to move the pilot valve to open position when the light waterlevel rises above a predetermined level and arranged to move the pilotvalve to closed position before said level drops below the bottom of thedown- 4. Apparatus for controlling foaming in operating steam boilerswhich comprises an open topped pan in the upper portion of the boilerhaving the top edges thereof above the normal water level but below adangerous foam level, a discharge valve mounted on top of the boiler, adownpipe extending from an inlet of said valve into the bottom portionof the pan, a pilot valve for opening and closing the discharge valveand a float in said pan connected to said pilot valve arranged to movethe pilot valve to open the discharge valve whenever liquid in the panexceeds a predetermined level above the mouth of the down pipe andarranged to move the pilot valve to close the discharge valve before theliquid level in the pan drops below the mouth of the downpipe;

5. Apparatus for controlling foaming in operating steam boilers whichcomprises an open topped pan in the upper portion of the boiler havingthe top edges thereof above the normal water level but below a dangerousfoam level, a discharge valve mounted on top of the boiler, a down pipeextending from an inlet of said valve into the bottom portion of thepan, a pilot valve for opening and closing the discharge valve and anopen topped bucket in the pan surrounding the mouth of the down pipe andconnected to the pilot valve, said bucket arranged to float in the panuntil the liquid in the pan exceeds a predetermined level above themouth of the down pipe whereupon the bucket will fill with said liquidand sink to actuate the pilot valve for opening the discharge valve,said bucket also arranged to again float to effect a closing of thedischarge valve whenever the liquid level in the pan drops below the topof the bucket.

6. In a combination, a steam boiler, a float in said boiler above thenormal boiler water level but below the steam outlet of the boiler, saidfloat adapted to be actuated by foam or light water developed above apredetermined level in the boiler during operation of the boiler, apilot valve operated by movement of the float, a blowoil valvecontrolled by the pilot valve, said blowoff valve being in communicationwith the interior of the boiler at a level therein below the float andmeans in said blow-off valve actuated by boiler pressure to open .theblow-off valve only when the pilot valve is moved. by the float inresponse to rise in foam and light water above said predetermined level.

'7. In combination, a steam boiler, a float in said boiler above thenormal water level of the boiler but within a zone reached by foarnandlight water development in the boiler below the steam outlet thereof, apilot valve connected to said float, a blow-off valve casing having afirst inlet in communication with the pilot valve and a second inlet incommunication with the inte rior of the boiler at a level below thefloat, said casing also having a discharge outlet between the inlets, apiston slidable in the casing separating the first inlet from theoutlet, a valve on the casing separating the second inlet from theoutlet, and said piston having a stem adapted to open the valve wherebylight water or foam actuation of the pilot valve toopen the same ventsthe boiler pressure to the piston causing the piston to open the valveand place the second inlet of the casing in communication with thedischarge for blowing down the boiler.

8. The method of removing foam forming and foam stabilizing ingredientsfrom boiler water in operating steam boilers which comprises collectingin the boiler directly from the mainbody of boiler water only theexcessive light water and foam formed above the steaming zone of theboiler water,- periodically venting the collected matter only below thesurface thereof to the atmosphere whenever the light water or foam inthe boiler exceeds a predetermined level and allowing boiler pressure toblow the collected mat ter upwardly out of the boiler.

9. The method of removing foam forming ingredients from boiler water inoperating steam boilers which comprises collecting in the boilerdirectly from the main body of boiler water only the light water andfoam formed throughout and above the steam generating zone of the boilerwater, periodically venting the boiler pressure to act on a valve foropening the valve whenever the lightwater or foam in the boiler exceedsa predetermined level and utilizing boiler pressure to blow thecollected matter only from below the surface thereof out of the boilerthrough the opened valve.

10. Apparatus for controlling foaming in operating steam boilers whichcomprises an open topped pan in the upper portion of the boiler havingthe top edges thereof above the normal water level but below a dangerousfoam level,a discharge valve casing mounted on top of the boiler andhaving an inlet in communication with the bottom portion of the pan andan outlet outside of the boiler, said casing having a piston compartmenttherein, a discharge valve between the inlet and outlet of the casingcontrolling fluid flow through the casing, a piston in the pistoncompartment of the casing and connected with the valve in such a mannerthat when the piston is subjected to boiler pressure, the piston willmove the valve to open position, means defining a passageway from theboiler to the piston compartment, a pilot valve controlling fluid flowthrough said passageway, a rod extending from said pilot valve into theboiler, aleverpivoted on the end of said rod, means pivotally supportingsaid lever in the boiler, a float in the form of an inverted cup on oneend of said lever and a counterweight on the other end of the lever tobalance the float, the bottom of said float being supported at a levelin the boiler not lower than. the top edges of the pan whereby a rise inlevel of'light water or foam in the boiler above said level will causethe float to rise for actuating the pilot valve to open the passagewayand vent the piston compartment to boiler pressure for opening thedischarge valve to cause material collected in the pan to be blown fromthe boiler.

11. In a steam boiler having a collector therein with the inlet thereofabove the normal water level but below the steam outlet of the boiler, a

blow-oil valve communicating with the lower portion of the boiler andpressure responsive means associated with the blow-oil valve to open thevalve upon discharge of liquids from the collector, the improvementswhich comprise a valve casing mounted on the outside of the boiler abovethe top of the collector and having an inlet and an outlet opening, apipe connecting the inlet with the bottom portion of the collector, asecond pipe connecting the outlet with said pressureresponsive means, adischarge valve separating the inlet from the outlet of the casing, apiston slidable in the casing for operating said discharge valve, meansdefining a passageway joining the interior of the boiler with one sideof the piston in the casing, a pilot valve cooperating with saidpassageway to control fluid flow therethrough, a float in the boileroperative above the bottom por tion of the collector and actuated byfoam or light water development above a predetermined level, and meansconnecting said pilot valve with said float to operate the valve forventing boiler pressure to the piston and thereby actuate the dischargevalve.

12. Apparatus for controlling foaming in operating steam boilers whichcomprises water and foam collecting means in the upper portion of theboiler having the inlet thereof above the normal water level in theboiler but below the steam outlet, said inlet being in communicationwith the main body of light water formed throughout and above the steamgenerating zone of the boiler for directly supplying said light waterinto the collecting means, a discharge valve above the collecting means,a down pipe extending from the valve into the collecting means andhaving an inlet mouth below the inlet level of the collecting means, andmeans responsive to the light water level in the boiler for actuatingthe discharge valve, said means set to respond to a level substantiallyabove said inlet mouth of the down pipe to open the discharge valve andset to respond to a lower level above said inlet mouth to close thevalve whereby a rise in light water above a predetermined level willcause said means to open the discharge valve and boiler pressure willforce liquid in the collecting means upwardly through the down pipe intothe discharge valve and out of the boiler without substantial loss ofsteam.

LEWIS O. GUNDERSON. OLAND W. CARRICK

